We caught up with our good buddy and Top Gun Static Scale Judge Bob Curry to learn more about his newest project. (Photos courtesy of Sean Curry).

Bob Curry:  I’ve been working on this 1/4 scale S.E.5a kit , on and off,  since last November. It is a Balsa USA kit and It’s now just about ready for covering with “Antique” Solartex. (Yes, I had bought several large rolls just before the covering became “Extinct”. My Scout is powered with a Zenoah G-38 equipped with a B&B Specialties spring started and muffler. I am using Futaba radio gear and servos. The airborne system is powered by two 2200mAh LiFe  battery packs connected in parallel through a redundant Smart–Fly “Bat Share” device.

I can’t say enough about the quality and value of Balsa USA WW1 kits. This is my fourth Balsa USA kit build (1/4 Nieuport, 1/4 Fokker Dr.1, and 1/3 Fokker D.VII), and with the exception of a small scale outline modification to the top wing center section cut-out, it is built exactly as designed. The fun part for me now is picking off all the various “Fiddly Bits”  not included in the basic kit but are unique to the full scale aircraft:  Wire Rigging, Lewis Gun,  Telescopic Gunsight, Windscreen & fairing, Landing Gear bungee fairings, Lower Cowl extensions, Cockpit detail and Pilot Figure (Aces of Iron).

My final choice for Color and Markings is of Flight Officer Duncan Milne with its distinctive red fuselage treatment.

Finish is brushed “Baer” Latex paint custom mixed at Home Depot.  I’ll prep the Solartex with about six thinned (50/50) coats of Sig Mfg. Butyrate over Nitrate dope. In my experience, it seems to keep the Solartex from bubbling or sagging over time.  All markings will also be masked and hand painted. (Just like the original)

My plan is to fly it again at the Rhinebeck WWI RC Jamboree in September 2021.

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Gary Hudson’s beautifully detailed 1/4 scale BUSA Fokker D-7 in flight.

This year, ten of our members had been planning to make the six-hour drive to the Rhinebeck Jamboree but since the US border crossing still remaining closed, we decided to host our own WW I Jamboree event at our club field. “Rhinebeck North” follows the same format as the NY Rhinebeck event which offered plenty of open flying for scale and semi-scale WW I vintage models as well as those of the Golden Age era of aviation prior to the outbreak of WW II.

Rolly Siemonsen flying the mission event with his Balsa USA Taube.

Also contestants could also choose to compete in the Rhinebeck Mission event. To achieve a high score, there are three categories: breaking a balloon on a stick with their propeller; dropping a bomb on a target; and make a spot landing within a circle.

This year’s Rhinebeck North Mission Winners

1st Place in the Mission event was won by Chris Shaw flying his Balsa USA Taube.

The “Spirit of Rhinebeck” award was won by Martin Irvine with his magnificent scratch built 1/3-scale Thomas Morse Scout.

Despite less than ideal flying conditions, we were happy to have a good turn out and enjoyed plenty of flying. Next year however, if all goes well, we are looking forward to again attending the Rhinebeck “South” event.

Author Brian Perkins Lines up for another Balloon Bust pass with his giant scale Bristol Scout.

Martin Irvine (left) with his 1/3-scale Thomas Morse Scout and Brian Perkins with his 1/3-scale Fokker Dr.I.

By Brian Perkins

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The fuselage is built around a self-aligning, light-weight box structure for added strength. The removable wing is held in place using old-school rubber bands (also included). Power can be glow or electric and the fuselage 41.5 inch-long fuselage has a magnetic top hatch so you have quick access to either your fuel tank or batteries. Weighing 3.5 to 4.5 pounds ready to fly, the 4-channel Fifty Six is also a Vintage R/C Society legal design.
oldschoolmodels.com

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brodak.com

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“Bernard H. Pietenpol pursued his dreams of flight from the ’20s through his passing in 1984. His dreams were of planes powered by auto engines that nearly everyone could afford to build and operate. He first flew Gnome, then Ford Model-T powered planes without success. When the Model-A was introduced, Bernie had the powerplant he needed. The Pietenpol Air Camper would carry two people and reach speeds of 70mph behind its 4-cylinder, water-cooled Ford auto engine.”

The photos shown here are of a replica that was based at the Ole Rhinebeck Aerodrome for years and was part of the weekend airshow. It is painted in the original colors as Bernard’s first prototype.

Born in the Great Depression years, the venerable Pietenpol Air Camper is perhaps the most famous of all early homebuilt designs. Pietenpol’s famous parasol met the needs of the lime and was designed to get off the ground, putt along slowly so its pilot and passenger could enjoy the local scenery and then return safely (and in one piece) back to earth.

Bernie used construction-grade lumber and many inexpensive, surplus WW I aircraft fittings and hardware to keep the Air Camper as affordable as possible. Pietenpol designed his own under-cambered airfoil (similar to the USA-27 airfoil) for the Air Camper, and to this day, it is still the preferred airfoil for those building modem-day examples of the Air Camper. Bernard Pietenpol published his plans for the aircraft in Modern Mechanics magazine and wrote several articles for it as well as for Popular Aviation magazine.

Click here for 3-view Drawing: Pietenpol Aircamper Note: be sure to select “Scale to Fit” when you print out the PDF drawings.

Plans for the original 2-seater parasol are still available from:

PIETENPOL FLYING FIELD – CHERRY GROVE MN.
Attn: Andrew C. Pietenpol
7203 IMPERIAL AVE S.
COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016

Home Number (6 5 1) 459-3209 Email: Andrew.Pietenpol@Gmail.com
Email: BHP.AND.SONS.AIR.CAMPER.AIRCRAFT@GMAIL.com

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Video courtesy of Tbobborap1

With a wingspan of 98 inches the Mustang is powered with a DA 85cc gas engine on a pipe. The retracts are from Sierra Precision, and Graham used a Spektrum transmitter and  PowerBox Receiver and JR Propo servos.The aluminum paint finish used paint masks and stencils are from Flightline Graphics. All rivets and fasteners are a mix of burnt on and hand cut fasteners. The scale pilot is from Wilson at Tailor Made Pilots.

This was a first flight, so Graham did have a few teething problems and a sick engine needing some tweaks but overall still flew great!

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It was meant to highlight the model that showed the upmost of craftsmanship and fidelity to scale. For 2021 the award was earned by Norman Malinowski, DMD., of Millstone Township, NJ.

We caught up with this year’s recipient and learned the back story for Norman’s award winning Albatros.

MAN: Congrats Norman, please tell us about your aircraft.

Norman Malinowski: Walther Huth started the Albatros Werke in Johannisthal, Germany. Prior to this, he was a Biologist who had studied Albatross birds. My Albatros D.III is 1/3-scale and it is my newest project after a 20 year break from the hobby.

MAN: How long did it take to build?

NM: The project took some three years. Everything, except the wheels and flying prop, are handmade. I built the model using plans published in Model Airplane News by Dave Johnson. I did make modifications. The wings are built mainly of balsa with hollow box plywood spars and balsa ribs. The wingtips were shaped using wood bent using a violin maker’s bending iron.  I used 1/64-inch Finland plywood for the leading edge sheeting and balloon cords fastening and reinforcement tapes which were tied every 13mm with scale knots.

MAN: What about the finish and hardware?

NM: The wing is silk covered and was “Z” stitched to the ribs and then a finishing tape was doped over that. The finish is about 10 to 12 coats of Sig Mfg. Butyrate dope. The colors were hand mixed by eye. The empennage (Tail Surfaces) were done similarly. The wing cabane strut attachments done the same as the full-scale aircraft using machined eyebolts (5mm) and long cross bolts. All the all hardware is handmade including turnbuckles with ball-socket attachment  and scale metal barrel hinges. Gussets on the wings are secured with doll house nails.

MAN: What about the fuselage?

NM: The Fuselage is made with plywood formers and is covered with 1/64-inch Finland birch plywood. Simulated panel nails were applied onto every panel: Full scale nails were a blackened steel color and I made indentations using a center punch and a small hammer. Then, I applied panel line stain to the indentations then wiping it off. Most of it remains in the small indents. The main finish on the fuselage is two to three coats of Amber Shellac.

MAN: Tell us about the controls and engine.

All controls are via pull-pull cables, fastened with double barrel swages.  The ailerons are activated by a large, homemade “Line Drive” type servo output wheel.  This runs the pull-pull cables going through brass pulleys at each wing tip area up to the aileron horns in the top wing. The plane balanced out at the required CG with no ballast weight added. The engine is a Zenoah G-62 equipped with a Mick Reeves belt reduction drive. A 5000mAh NiCd battery is on board. The radio equipment is all Futaba.

MAN: What other details did you add?

NM: Most of the dummy Mercedes engine is made by making clay patterns, baking them, then making silicone molds and pouring resin in the  molds and tumble casting using Polyurethane resin. The full body pilot made the same way.

All the cockpit gauges, pilot seat, throttle quadrant, control stick, etc., were made by bu me. I also hand turned the pulleys, and I made the shaped metal machine gun triggers on the control column with a carved wooden die and a hammer.

All the hatches are hinged and functional and the cowl is made of fiberglass with handmade, spring loaded cowl fasteners made to look just like those on the full scale aircraft. Also, the wing mounted radiator features functional cooling louvers and include the beautiful Mercedes Daimler logo, all made of Styrene plastic and Styrofoam painted with metalizer paints.

MAN: A true historically accurate work of art!

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Congratulations to all the winners of the 2021 WW I R/C Jamboree hosted by the Mid-Hudson RC Society Club at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Photos by Tim Haggerty and Courtesy of Fans of Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.

Award, Modelers, Aircraft

Spirit Of Rhinebeck, Norman Malinowski, Albatros D.III

Best of Show, Jack Buckley, Fairchild 24

Runner Up Thomas Kosewski Avro 504

Best Civilian, Bill Setzler, Morane-Saulnier (airshow plane)

Runner Up, Adam Lilley, Piper Cub

Best WW1, Brian Voyer, Sopwith Triplane

Runner Up, Thomas Kosewski, Dr.I Triplane

Best Golden Age, Bob Krull, Fleet Biplane

Runner Up, Rich Feroldi, Davis D1

Best Junior Pilot, Curtiss Gay, Arup S2

Runner Up, Corben Gay, Fokker D.VII

Mission 1st, Curtiss Gay

Mission 2nd, Nick Ziroli Jr.

Mission 3rd, Tim Haggerty

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